COLUMBUS, Georgia - Shannon Szabados made 27 saves in her mens professional hockey league debut Saturday, although her Columbus Cottonmouths fell 4-3 to the Knoxville Ice Bears. Szabados joined the Southern Professional Hockey League team last week. The 27-year-old goaltender from Edmonton backstopped the Canadian womens hockey team to Olympic gold Feb. 20. Columbus led 2-1 after the opening period, but Knoxville scored three unanswered goals in the second before the Cottonmouths scored again in the third. “It was fun,” Szabados told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. “I saw a few Szabados shirts out there. It was definitely a great moment.” Szabados made 27 saves in Canadas 3-2 thrilling overtime win over the U.S. to defend the gold in Sochi. She posted a 28-save shutout over the Americans in the womens Olympic hockey final in 2010. Szabados has spent much of her career in mens leagues. She played for Sherwood Park, Bonneyville and Fort Saskatchewan during her four years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. She then spent five years in Alberta mens college hockey with Grant MacEwen and then NAIT. Saturdays game was her first since the Olympic womens final, although she practised with the NHLs Edmonton Oilers when they were short a backup goaltender March 5. No woman has ever played in an NHL regular-season game. Goaltender Manon Rheaume became the first to play in an exhibition game with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. Canadian womens hockey team forward star Hayley Wickenheiser has played in mens leagues in Finland and Sweden during her career. The Cottonmouths are 25-25-3 in the 10-team SPHL and have secured a berth in the playoffs. James Norwood Cubs Jersey . James Erskine said Tuesday that Thorpe was "quite sick" in a Sydney hospital but dismissed media reports the swimmer might lose the use of his left arm. "Hes not in the intensive care," Erskine said. Rick Reuschel Jersey . The 21-year-old Wickham headed Sunderland into a 26th-minute lead --to add to the double he scored at Manchester City and his strike in last weekends win at Chelsea -- and then sealed the win with a late header. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2470t-rick-sut...ersey-cubs.html. Sami Salo scored two goals as the Canucks overcame a hat-trick from Edmonton Oiler rookie sensation Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to win 4-3 in NHL action Saturday. David Ross Jersey . Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. Kyle Schwarber Cubs Jersey . The premature end left 26 players still to finish the round in the Asian Tour event. Siddikur, who shot a bogey-free first round to share the lead with five others, eagled the par-5 first hole before bogeying twice and rebounding with six birdies.The Als couldnt have found more polar opposites when hiring their new “coaching consultants.”? Don Matthews was, for a time, the winningest coach in CFL history, while Turk Schonert, the longtime NFL QB and assistant coach who went to two Super Bowls with the Bengals, had no idea so much motion was allowed pre-snap after attending Alouettes practice for the first time. “Just soaking it in, its strange for me to come in and watch football and be quiet and just observe,” admitted the 57-year old former 1980 NFL Draft pick, now head coach Tom Higgins designated “fly on the wall.” Matthews, a former Grey Cup Champion head coach with the Als in 2002, who spent time with the club last season and took great satisfaction in watching his prodigy Noel Thorpe contact high-risk high-reward blitzes worthy of “The Don.” Schonert was in the mix to join the Alouettes a year ago, having interviewed with GM Jim Popp and owner Robert Wetenhall for the teams head coaching position before the ill-fated hire of Dan Hawkins. His number one task at the moment is finding ways to help the struggling offense.? “Its not just the quarterback...hes talented,” Schonert pointed out.? “He (Troy Smith) was in the UFL when I wass coaching at Sacramento he was with Omaha.dddddddddddd?I know Bart Andrus (the former Argos head coach) and he said a lot of great things about Troy. “You know hes talented -- he won the Heisman Trophy, and you know about his athleticism, so Troy has to keep working and improving, but everybody around him has to keep working and believing.” Smith welcomes the new set of eyes, even if the first impression was coloured by the “fly on the wall” approach. “I was around him all day and he didnt say one word so it gives you an eerie feeling,” admitted the former Ohio State hero under fire in Montreal now that his passing efficiency rating has dropped to ninth in the league. Still, Higgins admitted Schonert didnt know about the 20-second play-clock pace the Als practice with in order to replicate game speed.? So how can a man with no CFL experience help a struggling starting QB? “Sounds like me,” Smith chuckled with an infectious laugh.? “Theres different things he brings to the table and hopefully hell help us out.” If Schonert isnt able to get Smith and the offence on track, former Als recently-retired greats Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon are waiting in the wings for the opportunity. ' ' '